# US 2018/0027587 A1 · Network controller, node device and mesh network system thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0027587 A1 - Document ID: US20180027587A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/648,341 - Filed: 2017-07-12 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-20 - Assignees: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) LTD - Applicants: Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) LTD - Inventors: Junjie Qiao; Wenxiang Xie; Haidong Zhu; Linyan Liu; Zhibin Ruan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180027587A1 ## CPC - H04W 12/06: Authentication - H04B 7/15542: {Selecting at relay station its transmit and receive resources (selection of wireless resources by user or terminal H04W72/02; arrangements affording multiple use of the transmission path by two-dimensional division of the resources H04L5/0003, or by allocating sub-channels H04L5/003)} - H04J 3/16: in which the time allocation to individual channels within a transmission cycle is variable, e.g. to accommodate varying complexity of signals, to vary number of channels transmitted (H04J3/17, H04J3/24 take precedence) - H04L 5/0096: {Indication of changes in allocation} - H04W 24/02: Arrangements for optimising operational condition - H04W 28/021: {in wireless networks with changing topologies, e.g. ad-hoc networks (self-organizing networks H04W84/18)} - H04W 40/125: {using a measured number of retransmissions as a link metric} - H04W 40/244: {using a network of reference devices, e.g. beaconing} - H04W 52/0229: {where the received signal is a wanted signal} - H04W 56/0015: {one node acting as a reference for the others} - H04W 72/0446: Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames - H04W 72/29: between an access point and the access point controlling device - H04W 74/04: Scheduled access (hybrid access H04W74/02) - H04W 74/085: {collision avoidance} - H04W 84/18: Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks - Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04J: MULTIPLEX COMMUNICATION (transmission in general H04B; peculiar to transmission of digital information H04L5/00; systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal H04N7/08; in exchanges H04Q11/00; stereophonic systems H04S) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract An apparatus can include: (i) a network controller in a mesh network, the network controller being configured to send a beacon in a predetermined beacon slot in a broadcast manner, where the beacon includes a slot allocation state of the mesh network; and (ii) a plurality of node devices, where each node device is configured to synchronize according to the beacon, and to send a data packet within a corresponding fixed time slot according to the slot allocation state, where each of the fixed time slots corresponds to only one of the plurality of node devices. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus, comprising: a) a network controller in a mesh network, said network controller being configured to send a beacon in a predetermined beacon slot in a broadcast manner, wherein said beacon comprises a slot allocation state of said mesh network; and b) a plurality of node devices, wherein each said node device is configured to synchronize according to said beacon, and to send a data packet within a corresponding fixed time slot according to said slot allocation state, wherein each of said fixed time slots corresponds to only one of said plurality of node devices. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plurality of node devices and said network controller are configured to send a data packet by randomly selecting a dynamic time slot, wherein said dynamic time slot and said fixed time slot are located between two adjacent beacon slots. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: a) each of said plurality of node devices is configured to obtain said slot allocation state according to said beacon when entering a network, and to randomly select an unoccupied fixed time slot to send a request for accessing said network to said network controller; and b) said network controller is configured to save a node device address corresponding to said request for accessing said network and allocate said fixed time slot, and to send a response of said request for accessing said network in a next corresponding fixed time slot. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein each of said plurality of node devices is configured to resend said request for accessing said network by randomly selecting said dynamic time slot when said response of said request for accessing said networks timeouts. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein: a) said request for accessing said network comprises authentication information of said mesh network; b) said authentication information comprises a network identifier, a network key, and a device manufacturer identifier; c) said network key is configured for encrypting and decrypting internal interactive data of said mesh network; and d) said network controller and said node device are configured to discard said data packet when said authentication information of a received data packet does not match self-stored authentication information. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said network controller is configured to: a) increase a number of time slots between said beacon slots when the size of said network needs to be increased; b) reallocate said fixed time slots to said node devices in itself and said mesh network in a random manner; and c) broadcast said slot allocation state by said beacon. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: a) said network controller is configured to send a state query request in a corresponding fixed time slot, and to update the states and route information of said plurality of node devices in said mesh network in response to said state query request from at least one of said plurality of node devices; b) said network controller is configured to broadcast a disconnection notification in a repeat way, and to modify said route information and said slot allocation state when a particular node device is disconnected from said mesh network system; and c) said particular node device is configured to change a state flag to off network after receiving said disconnection notification. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: a) each of said plurality of node devices is configured to enter a sleep state when no beacon is received within a predetermined number of cycles in which said node device does not send said data packet; and b) said node device is configured to wake-up a detection beacon at a certain timing in the sleep mode, and is re-entered an operation state when said beacon is detected. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of node devices is configured to determine whether or not to forward said data packet based on the number of times of forwarding said data packet and a relative position of its own network, and wherein said relative position represents the number of hops of a shortest path between said node device and said network controller. ### Claim 10 A node device of a mesh network, the node device comprising: a) a radio controllable to transmit and receive data; and b) a control device being configured to synchronize according to a beacon of a network controller broadcasted in a beacon slot, and to send a data packet in the corresponding time slot according to a slot allocation state, wherein each of said time slots corresponds to only one node device of a plurality of node devices in said mesh network. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The node device of claim 10, wherein said control device is configured to send a data packet by randomly selecting a dynamic time slot, wherein said dynamic time slot and said fixed time slot are located between two adjacent beacon slots. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The node device of claim 10, wherein said control device is configured to obtain said slot allocation state according to said beacon when entering a network, and to randomly select an unoccupied fixed time slot to send a request for accessing said network to said network controller. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The node device of claim 12, wherein said control device is configured to resend said request for accessing said network by randomly selecting said dynamic time slot when said response of said request for accessing said networks timeouts. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The node device of claim 12, wherein: a) said request for accessing said network comprises authentication information of said mesh network system; b) said authentication information comprises a network identifier, a network key, and a device manufacturer identifier; c) said network key is configured for encrypting and decrypting internal interactive data of said mesh network system; and d) said control device is configured to discard said data packet when said authentication information of a received data packet does not match self-stored authentication information. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The node device of claim 10, wherein: a) said control device is configured to enter a sleep state when no beacon is received within a predetermined number of cycles in which said control device does not send said data packet; and b) said control device is configured to wake-up a detection beacon at a certain timing in the sleep mode and is re-entered an operation state when said beacon is detected. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The node device of claim 10, wherein said control device is configured to determine whether or not to forward said data packet based on the number of times of forwarding said data packet and a relative position of its own network, and wherein said relative position represents the number of hops of a shortest path between said node device and a network controller of a mesh network. ### Claim 17 A network controller of a mesh network, the network controller comprising: a) a radio controllable to transmit and receive data; and b) a control device configured to generate a beacon comprising a slot allocation state of said mesh network, and to control said radio to send said beacon in a predetermined beacon slot, wherein said slot allocation state represents an allocation state of a fixed time slot. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The network controller of claim 17, wherein said control device is configured to send a data packet by randomly selecting a dynamic time slot, wherein said dynamic time slot and said fixed time slot are located between two adjacent beacon slots. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The network controller of claim 17, wherein said control device is configured to save a node device address corresponding to said request for accessing said network and allocate said fixed time slot, and to send a response of said request for accessing said network in a next corresponding fixed time slot. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The network controller of claim 19, wherein said request for accessing said network comprises authentication information of said mesh network system, wherein said authentication information comprises a network identifier, a network key, and a device manufacturer identifier.